NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M vs NVIDIA Quadro K5000 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear and consistent victory for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M across all three benchmark tests. The GTX 780M wins every head-to-head comparison, with the largest margin appearing in the Geekbench Metal test. There, the GTX 780M scores 8319 points against the Quadro K5000's 6324 points, a 31.5% advantage. This is the single biggest performance gap between the two cards in the database.

The OpenCL results narrow the gap somewhat but still favor the GTX 780M decisively. The mobile card posts 12769 points, while the Quadro K5000 manages 11418 points, leaving the GTX 780M ahead by 11.8%. The Vulkan test falls in between the other two: the GTX 780M scores 12696, the Quadro K5000 scores 11169, and the delta shrinks to 13.7% in favor of the GTX 780M.

Looking at aggregate performance, the GTX 780M's average benchmark score is 11261, which places it in the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database. The Quadro K5000's average is 9637, putting it in the 46th percentile. The difference in average scores is substantial, roughly 16.8% higher for the GTX 780M when calculated from the raw figures. The nearest rivals in the database for each card help contextualize these numbers. The GTX 780M sits within 0.3% of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 (11228) and AMD FirePro W4300 (11225), and it is 1.6% ahead of both the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Max-Q and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000D Blackwell Max-Q (both at 11088). The Quadro K5000, by contrast, is effectively tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M (9645, a -0.1% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 (9653, a -0.2% delta), while sitting 0.3% behind the NVIDIA Quadro P4000 (9665) and 0.8% behind the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (9716).

Benchmark results indicate that the GTX 780M's advantage is not a single-test anomaly. Its win in Metal is by a large margin, its win in Vulkan is solid, and its win in OpenCL is comfortable. No test in the database shows the Quadro K5000 taking a lead. The sweep is complete: three wins for the GTX 780M, zero for the Quadro K5000.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split follows directly from the benchmark data. The GTX 780M wins in every recorded workload category, so it is the stronger choice for applications that rely on Metal, OpenCL, or Vulkan compute. The Metal result is particularly notable: a 31.5% lead suggests the GTX 780M is markedly better suited for Metal-based rendering or compute tasks, which are common in macOS environments or cross-platform engines that use Apple's graphics API. The Vulkan advantage of 13.7% indicates a meaningful edge in modern cross-platform games and Vulkan-based compute workloads. The OpenCL lead of 11.8% is smaller but still significant, covering a broad range of professional and scientific applications that use OpenCL for general-purpose GPU computing.

The Quadro K5000 does not win any benchmark category in the database. Its scores are consistently lower across all three tests. However, the data does not capture every possible workload, and the Quadro line's positioning in the professional market suggests its strengths may lie outside the recorded Geekbench tests. Still, based strictly on the measurements available, there is no scenario in the database where the Quadro K5000 outperforms the GTX 780M. Users prioritizing raw compute performance in these three APIs should choose the GTX 780M without hesitation. Users who require the Quadro K5000's specific display outputs (2x DVI, 2x DisplayPort 1.2) or its desktop form factor may still prefer it for connectivity reasons, but not for benchmark performance.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, with an average score of 11261, compared to the NVIDIA Quadro K5000's 9637.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two cards?

A: The largest gap is in the Geekbench Metal test, where the GTX 780M scores 8319 against the Quadro K5000's 6324, a 31.5% difference.

Q: Does the Quadro K5000 win any benchmark test?

A: No. The database records three head-to-head tests, and the GTX 780M wins all three: Metal (8319 vs 6324), OpenCL (12769 vs 11418), and Vulkan (12696 vs 11169).

Q: How does the GTX 780M compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 780M is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 3200 and AMD FirePro W4300, and 1.6% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Max-Q and RTX PRO 6000D Blackwell Max-Q.

Q: How does the Quadro K5000 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Quadro K5000 is 0.1% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100, 0.3% behind the NVIDIA Quadro P4000, and 0.8% behind the NVIDIA Tesla C2070.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each card?

A: The GTX 780M sits in the 50th percentile of all GPUs, while the Quadro K5000 sits in the 46th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two cards share the same GPU chip (GK104), architecture (Kepler), process node (28 nm), foundry (TSMC), transistor count (3,540 million), and die size (294 mm²). Their memory subsystems are also identical in capacity (4 GB GDDR5) and bus width (256 bit). The shading units (1536), texture mapping units (128), and render output units (32) are the same on both cards.

The differences begin with clock speeds. The GTX 780M has a base clock of 771 MHz and a boost clock of 797 MHz, while the Quadro K5000 runs at a fixed 706 MHz for both base and boost. The memory clock also differs: the GTX 780M runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective), while the Quadro K5000 runs at 1350 MHz (5.4 Gbps effective). This results in a memory bandwidth difference: the Quadro K5000 achieves 172.8 GB/s, while the GTX 780M achieves 160.0 GB/s. The Quadro K5000 has a 7.9% bandwidth advantage in this specific area.

The compute rates reflect the clock differences. The GTX 780M's pixel rate is 25.50 GPixel/s versus the Quadro K5000's 22.59 GPixel/s. The texture rate is 102.0 GTexel/s for the GTX 780M versus 90.37 GTexel/s for the Quadro K5000. The FP32 throughput is 2.448 TFLOPS for the GTX 780M versus 2.169 TFLOPS for the Quadro K5000. Both cards list the same TDP of 122 W, but the physical requirements differ. The GTX 780M uses an MXM Module slot width with no power connectors and an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface. The Quadro K5000 is a dual-slot card, 267 mm (10.5 inches) long and 111 mm (4.4 inches) high, requiring a single 6-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU, using a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface.

Display outputs also separate the two. The GTX 780M's outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," since it is a mobile module. The Quadro K5000 offers 2x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2. The release dates differ: the Quadro K5000 launched on 2012-08-16, while the GTX 780M launched on 2013-05-10. The Quadro K5000 has a recorded launch MSRP of 2,499 USD; the GTX 780M has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on NVIDIA's Kepler architecture using the GK104 chip, fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process. The transistor density is identical at 12.0M per mm². Neither card features ray tracing cores or tensor cores, which is consistent with their Kepler generation. The API support is also identical: DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175.

The architectural differences are minimal at the silicon level. The core configuration is the same: 1536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The real differences come from clock speeds and memory configuration, which are specification-level rather than architectural. The GTX 780M runs its shaders at 771 MHz base and 797 MHz boost, while the Quadro K5000 is locked at 706 MHz. The Quadro K5000 compensates slightly with faster memory (1350 MHz vs 1250 MHz), giving it higher bandwidth. However, the GTX 780M's higher core clocks translate into better pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 throughput.

The product generations differ: the GTX 780M belongs to the GeForce 700M family, with the GeForce 600M as its predecessor and GeForce 800M as its successor. The Quadro K5000 belongs to the Quadro Kepler (Kx000) family, with the Quadro Fermi as its predecessor and Quadro Maxwell as its successor. Both cards are end-of-life products. The GTX 780M is a mobile MXM module, while the Quadro K5000 is a full-length desktop card. This form factor difference is significant: the GTX 780M is designed for laptops and portable workstations, while the Quadro K5000 is designed for desktop workstations with its dual-slot cooler and 6-pin power connector.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M outperforms the NVIDIA Quadro K5000 in every benchmark recorded in the database. It wins Metal by 31.5%, OpenCL by 11.8%, and Vulkan by 13.7%. Its average benchmark score is 11261 versus 9637, and it ranks in the 50th percentile of all GPUs compared to the Quadro K5000's 46th percentile.

Users who need maximum compute performance in Metal, OpenCL, or Vulkan workloads should choose the GTX 780M. Its higher core clocks (771 MHz base, 797 MHz boost versus a fixed 706 MHz) drive better pixel rate (25.50 vs 22.59 GPixel/s), texture rate (102.0 vs 90.37 GTexel/s), and FP32 throughput (2.448 vs 2.169 TFLOPS). The GTX 780M's 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus is identical in capacity and bus width to the Quadro K5000, though the Quadro has a slight bandwidth edge (172.8 GB/s vs 160.0 GB/s). That bandwidth advantage is not enough to overcome the GTX 780M's compute lead.

The Quadro K5000 is the right choice only in specific circumstances unrelated to benchmark performance. It offers a fixed desktop form factor with dual-slot cooling, a 6-pin power connector, and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. It provides 2x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, which are clearly specified, while the GTX 780M's outputs depend on the portable device it is installed in. The Quadro K5000 also has a documented launch MSRP of 2,499 USD. For users building a desktop workstation with specific display connectivity needs, the Quadro K5000 has those physical advantages. For anyone measuring raw GPU compute through the benchmarks in this database, the GTX 780M is the definitive winner.